When sitting the AP English Language and Composition exam, students will encounter the AP Language multiple choice questions. These multiple choice questions make up Section I of the paper. They aim to test candidates’ abilities in two distinct areas. The first is in reading comprehension, with questions requiring candidates to read and analyse nonfiction texts. The second set of multiple choice questions focuses on writing. These questions challenge students to place themselves in the shoes of a writer and revise stimulus texts. 

Before any revision can take place, students aiming to tackle the AP English Language and Composition exam and, thus, the AP Lang multiple choice questions, must be familiar with a wide variety of literary devices. The ability to identify literary devices, such as foreshadowing, hyperbole, and the various types of irony, is essential to succeeding in the Section I of the AP English Language and Composition paper. Not only that, but candidates must also be able to interpret these devices. The importance of literary devices with regard to the AP Lang multiple choice questions cannot be overstated. 

Similarly, rhetorical devices should be well understood. A working knowledge of rhetorical devices such as ethos, pathos, and logos will allow students to excel in the multiple choice portion of the AP English Language and Composition exam. All of this can be revised before even taking a look at a past paper. 

Insofar as the types of passages used for this portion of the examination, there is a lot of variety. Candidates will encounter excerpts of political speeches, as well as essays on topics as diverse as jazz music, women’s rights, and recycling. Ultimately, it is important to read widely in preparation for the exams so as not to be caught off guard by texts as diverse as Jonathan Swift’s satirical essay ‘A Modest Proposal’, first published in 1729, or former-U.S. President George H. W. Bush’s 1992 State of the Union Address. With regard to the question types, however, there is some repetition. While these are multiple choice questions and variation exists from passage to passage and paper to paper, certain patterns can be gleaned from interacting with a large number of the AP English Lang and Composition papers and AP Lang multiple choice questions.

The AP Language and Composition paper is a fast paced exam, particularly the multiple choice section. The goal for students is to complete each passage in roughly 11 minutes. To achieve this, candidates should practise diligently to improve their reading speed and ability to answer questions under pressure. One early strategy is to select a text, read it, and then attempt to briefly summarise it, all within five minutes. Having refined this, students can move on to reading and annotating a text, also to be completed within five minutes. Then, move on to the questions, aiming to answer these within six minutes. It is recommended to keep a close eye on progress over time. Consider the process of preparing for the AP Language multiple choice questions as if a sportsperson were training for a race: it is essential to keep careful records of performance over time and periodically check in.

To analyse passages within the AP Language multiple choice section with greater ease, there are a number of techniques that can be used. For example, skim reading can be beneficial. Skim reading means skipping over portions of text that provide additional detail, data, or other elaborations that do not relate directly to the main idea of the passage. In doing so, candidates can gain a faster working knowledge of the excerpt and be better prepared to move onto the multiple choice questions quickly. 

It is important to also be able to recognise an author’s purpose, tone, and audience. To do so, first consider the historical and/or cultural context of a text. This can often help establish purpose and audience. Next, consider the language used. Examining written language with regard to an author’s diction and use of connotations can help candidates gain a greater understanding of the texts in the multiple choice section of the AP English Language and Composition paper. 

Lastly, annotating a text is recommended but this should be done strategically. It is not helpful to annotate every word or phrase. For example, adverbs often hold little value within a text. If the author is working at a high standard they will not need to describe how a character is doing an action—for example, yelling “aggressively”—as this can be understood by the reader through context. Consequently, focus on those words and phrases that stand out most, that offer the greatest insight into the purpose of the text and are most beneficial to answer questions that seek to establish the message of a particular excerpt.

There are a number of question types that students encounter in the AP Lang multiple choice section of the AP English Language and Composition exam. The first is comprehension questions. Put simply, these seek to establish whether or not the reader understands the passage on a foundational level. From here, the question types become slightly more complex. A further two examples of the types of questions that appear as AP Lang multiple choice questions are rhetorical analysis questions and synthesis questions. While the former investigates a candidate’s ability to recognise and analyse rhetorical devices, the latter is concerned with how individual paragraphs or the text as a whole functions to express meaning. 

The goal of any examination is to achieve the highest possible number of correct answers. To do this in the AP Lang multiple choice section, students must be careful when reading both the excerpts and accompanying questions. While this seems like an obvious piece of advice, it is common for candidates, in a fit of exam-anxiety, to misread passages and questions and lose marks. Other useful techniques for eliminating wrong answers include identifying blatantly incorrect options among the multiple choice answers—there is often at least one option that is so clearly incorrect as can be eliminated outright—and making sure all answers are verified with textual evidence. It is not enough to gamble marks on what you vaguely recall from a hurried reading; look back at the excerpt to make sure you are correct.

As with any exam, familiarity is key. This means candidates sitting the AP English Language and Composition exam should regularly engage with sample multiple choice questions and past exam papers. By doing so, students can gain an understanding of the workings of the exam itself, and come to identify patterns in question asked. Moreover, working with past papers allows the opportunity to complete timed practice sessions, which are vital for success in the real exam. 

After finishing a past exam paper, it's important to complete a performance analysis. As essential as it is to identify patterns in terms of questions asked, it’s equally necessary that students recognise patterns of error in their work. Candidates should take note of what types of questions prove most challenging for them to answer and what types of texts they find to be most troublesome. Moreover, students should be sure to evaluate their time management—was the paper completed in the required time frame; how long did each passage take to complete—and set clear improvement targets moving forward. 

BartyED’s team of highly trained AP tutors have a wealth of experience guiding students through the AP Language and Composition examination, with a particular emphasis on the AP Lang multiple choice section. We understand the unique challenges of the paper, particularly the multiple choice section, and how best to assist students preparing to sit this exam. If you or your child will be sitting the AP Language and Composition paper and are concerned about the multiple choice portion of this challenging exam, reach out to us today by phone (+852 2882 1017) or email (enquiries@bartyed.com). BartyED tutors are here to help.  

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